CHEAT NORTHERN STEEPLE CHASE DAY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XXIV, 15 June 1901, Page VIII (Supplement)

CHEAT NORTHERN STEEPLE CHASE DAY.

The Auckland Racing Club’s North New Zealand Grand National Meeting ■which opened on Saturday.was attended by one of tbe largest and most representative assemblages of New Zealand racegoers that has ever been witnessed at Ellerslie. True, there were few • South Island racing men. present, but from all parts of the North Island they came in small bands, and altogether there were more visitors than has been known at any winter meeting. The weather was just what might have been expected at this season of tbe year, and was such that permitted of the day passing off without inconvenience to the large crowd, which must have

numbered between eight ami ten thousand persons, the railway conveying by far the greater proportion from the city and intermediate stations, and from the country districts extending to the Waikato. The stands and different coigns of vantage w'ere fully made use of during the progress of the racing, and .when the Great Northern Steeplechase was being contested crowds wended their way to the centre of the grounds, lining up on each side of the double and water jump, while the top .of the main stand was black with’ people, that being the favourite, place- with thousands from which to get’a..view of the big cross country event. The racing was on the whole very go.*', and the large fields were a treat to see, the only small one being that for the opening event, the Maiden Steeplechase, won by Kowhai, a son of Vanguard, who might possibly have found it a difficult matter ttg.dispose of Sudden, the favourite, had that gelding not run off at the second fence of the double. The big field of twenty-one went out for the First Maiden Welter, that race being cleverly won by a smart, neat, wiry-looking three-year-old daughter of .-Stepnlak named Stepina, hailing from Wellington, the hitherto disappointing-Auck-land owned mare Balbirnie beating all the rest, of which Lady Zulu, a mare from Dargaville. was the next best. Jemima, a full sister to the winner, and in the same stable. was favourite, but did not; begin well, and is evidently an erratic lady? as she appeared very excited going to the post, being led by her trainer.

Then came the ...Great Northern Steeplechase, for which there were seven runners left after scratchings had been made. The commanding Hawke's Bay gelding .Moifaa and the Auckland representative Cannongate were almost equal and then came the consistent Nor’-west. Jloth the last nameyl looked just a trifle light to carry their big imposts, but never were trainers and connections of both more sanguine. Kaimate, the Taranaki gelding, looked well, and so did the N.Z. Grand National wiigier of 1899 Blackberry. Dingo looked just a little above himself, but Voltigeur 11., the hero of last year, was on the light side: The race was certainly a most interesting one, Blackberry and Canhongate making the pace for two-thirds of the journey, when Moifaa asserted himself, and going on in great style: was in front the remainder'of< the'journey; with Blackberry his nearest companion till descending the hill the last time, when Blackberry broke down badly in one of his forelegs, and was pulled up after, coniing oyer the last . wall. C'unnongute struck his stifles so hard at the second fence of the double that he was from that stage beaten. Nor’-west hit several of the fences,, and his big weight stopped him, but nevertheless he ran the race of his life. Kaimate jumped clean and well throughout, and lasted just long enough to beat Nor’-west for second money, but had no chance with Moifaa, who Won with something to spare, and certainly travelled over more grotind than anything else. Voltigeur 11. ran well for nearly three miles, but the second fence— Percival's puzzle it is called—proved disastrous to Dingo, who fell, but continued on over the two fences on the hill, and then stopped of tile own accord. Moifaa is by tKe defunct Traducer horse Natator from The Painter mare Denbigh, who was her•elf a capable performer over coun-

try, and has proved a first-class stud matron. The enthusiasm of the people when Moifaa and other runners were returning to scale. Mr Ellingham’s horse got a splendid reception, and indeed it was deserved. From a time point of view his performance was the fastest ever record**: ed at this season of the year, as will be seen from the table below: — WINNEBS OF THE GREAT NORTHERN STEEPLECHASE.” m. »• 1885— Mr Promt's Mnearonl. 12.0 .... 9 19 1886— Mr Hilder s Bell, 11.2 V 20 1887— Mr Mnloney's Silvio, 11.2 9 8“ IXBB—Mr Keith's Allegro. 9.0 8 44 1889— Mr Kean's Don. 9.0 8 54 itKXI—Mr Barnard's Jenny. 10.0 8 55 1891—Mr J. Maitland's Parnell. 9.11 9 161 181*2 —Mr Williamson's Shillelagh,lo.l 8 44 1893— Mr Wyley s Despised. 9.7 .... 9 WIJ 1894— Mr Burke s Boniluirdler. 10.0.. 9 2 18t«5 —Mr Buller's Liberator, 11.12.. 8 57 1836—Mr Rae's Levanter, 10.0 8 57 1897— Mr line's Levanter, 12.1 8 57 1898- Mr Watson's .Muscatel, 10.3.... 8 22 1890— Mr Watson's Dummy. 11.11.... 8 34 1900 — Mr Ross’ Voltigeur IL, 9.9.... 9 5J 1901— Mrs Ellingbam's Moifaa, 10.12 8 19$

The Maiden Hurdle Handicap proved the good thing on paper it appeared to be for Hinau, all save Dartmoor, who lost a lot of ground at every jump, being lieaten off. The First Winter Welter was a splendid contest between Rosella mid St. Ursula, the pair that were selected on the weights appearing as the pick of the handicap. St. Olga was indulged with the lead too far, and ran a capital race, Hail Whitehouse not relaxed his efforts lon "St. Ursula about the distance post he would probably have'got St.'Ursula home. However? it was a capital race. Rosella won ihis race last year. Cavaliero did not jump so quick in the Remuera Hurdle Race as he sometimes does, and he was a long way back at the five furlong post, and some thought he would not get to the leaders. He, however, gradually drew up. passing Regalia 11. and Rufus, and getting on terms with Tim nearing the last hurdle. There Hairtrigger, who was leading by two lengths, fell, and Princess of Thule, who was nearly down at the very first hurdle, and was now going well behind Cavaliero. fell over the top of Hairtrigger. Cavaliero who carried the big impost of 13.13, thus had all opposition disposed of, and won easily. Paul Seaton surprised most people by outstaying Fashion, Derringeote. and eight others in the Ladies’ Bracelet, in which he was nicely handled by Mr H. Tonks._ SECOND DAY’S 1 RACING. First Maiden Steeplechase; of 100 sovs, second horse lOsove. Two and a half iiiiles.—l4o, H. Tooman’s b g Kowhai. by Vanguard—Queen Bess, 10.11 (Tooman), 1; • 100, Verdi, 9.7 (Phillips), 2; 106, Satan, 9.7 (Burns), 3. Also started: 296, Sudden, 10.5; 40, Starlight, 9.7. Kowhai • led once round. Sudden, his nearest attendant, .was on terms at the double on the second round, but ran off at the second fence. ' No change took place till the last time over the hill, when Verdi, who was running far behind, closed up on his field. Kowhai, however, eanie away going down the hill, and cantered home six lengths ahead of Verdi, who was the same distance ahead of Satan. Time, 4min 42 3 ssee. Dividend, £4 8/. First Maiden Handicap Welter, of 100 sovs. Seven furlongs.—G. Anderson’s b f Stepina,' by"Stenniak—Glbrina, 9:6 (Abbott). 1: lialbirnie, 16.6 (Whitehouse)', 2;-ijtdy Zulu, -9.0 (Searle);l.3. Scratched: Merry Kate and Na'Dhichrtiimchurch. All the 21 horses were steady when the barrier was raised. Chancellor II: and Khanja dwelling. T resham came out of the. ruck, followed by Stepina and continued in advance to the people's stand, where lie was caught by Stepina and Balbirnie -in turn, and passed by Lady Zulu, Altai and Highlander, Stepina winning by Half a length. Time, Intin 35see. Dividend, £l5 10/. MAIDEN HANDICAP HURDLES. 71 —Messrs Warrington and How- r . ell's b g Mokotnoko, aged. 9st (Buckley) K 29— My ,J. Jack's gr g Pungarehu, . 9st' (Conwav) 2 59- Plain Jack, 9st (IVilliams) 3 Then followed: 150, Tiki; 29, Swiftfoot: 29. Swimmer. 112 Royal Conqueror fell at the second hurdle, and Cannonade broke a blood vessel. Time, 3min 40see. Dividend, £lO 7/. r . MAIDEN HANDICAP WELTER, of 100 sovs; second horse to receive lOsov*

out of stake. For all horses that has never won fiOsovs at the time of starting. 285—Lady Zqlu (Searle) » ...... 1 163— Donnybrook (Taylor) . ..; 2 149—Highlander (Edwards) 3 Then followed: 101, lialbirnie; 28, Tresbam: 194, Repetition: 33, Bandolier; 10, Alma; 92. King Edward; . 14, Kohara; 94, Employer. Won by a length, same distance ‘between second and third. Time, liuin's3 l-ssee.’. dividend. £4. „ GRAND NATIONAL HANDICAP HURDLES. 487— Coeur de Lion (Mqore) 1 120- Hairtrigger (Williams)..-.... 2 575 —Cavaliero (Wright) :.... 3 Also started: 64 Cannongate (Slewart). 403 Mbifa (D. Watt), 173 Nor’West (Hall), 08 Kaimate (Cochrane), 79 Dartmoor (Johnson), 94 Sundial (O'Connell), 25 Princess of Thule (Burns). 10 Puffing Billy (Berry), 90 Rufus (Higgins). 6 Royal Conqueror (Mclntosh). Ifairtrigger was in front from the hill. Sundial, Puffing Billy, and Cannongate coming down at- the second hurdle. Rufus and Princess of Thule

followed Hairtrigger to the back stretch. Hairtrigger was leading Cavaliero and Dartmoor, who were close together, by two lengths. Here Cavaliero struck heavily, ami Hairtrigger and Moifaa, who gained ground, came on together into the straight, with Rufus and Coeur de Lion at their heels. Coeur de Lion overhauded lluirthrigger coniing to the last fence, Cavaliero being almost on terms. Coeur-de-Lion made a faulty ■ jump, and Moifaa ran wide. . Moore, making a clever recovery, got Coeur-de-Lion going again, au 1 catehing Cavaliero and Hairtrigger, won by - two lengths. Hairtrigger beating Cavaliero by the same distance, Moi- . faa a length away fourth, a.id Royal . Conqueror, who came well .in the . straight, fifth. Time, 4min 5 2-.'sec, Dividend, £4 1/. T ALLY-H O STEEPLECHASE. 126—Sudden (Berry) 1 ’ 218—Tarragon (Hall) . 2 322—Dingo (Fergus).— ........... -3 ' (193) Sylvanua (Redmond) also started. Sylvanns fell while leading at the end of half the distance. Time, 6.43 2-5. Dividend, £6 2/.